Centre Square Fire Company in Whitpain plans 100th anniversary events

Active fire fighters and work force members of the Centre Square Fire Company pose in front of the tower 33 truck Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. The company is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Photo by Gene Walsh/Times Herald Staff.

WHITPAIN — As a part of its 100th anniversary, Centre Square Fire Company will be hosting a few different events throughout the year for the community.

According to its website, the Centre Square Fire Company was started in February of 1913 when a group of local residents got together and discussed the need for a fire company to cover Blue Bell, Centre Square, Belfry and parts of Whitpain. After a town meeting a few days later, the Centre Square Fire Company was born with 35 volunteers.

“The fact that we are 95 percent volunteer service helps the local tax payers out a lot,” Ed O’Hanlon, president of the Centre Square Fire Company, said.

As a part of the 100th anniversary, members are trying to push forward three missions to advance the company.

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“First, we are trying to maintain a high member enrollment and attract a diverse group of younger and older members,” O’Hanlon said.

“All of the training is in house for those who qualify to be volunteer firefighters,” Miller said.

Members also hope to communicate to the residents the taxes that Centre Square Fire Company helps residents of the area save.

The first event to kick off the 100th year will be a comedy night on Saturday, Jan. 26. Comics included will be Grover Silcox, Robin Fix, Mike Morse and The Legendary Wid. Tickets for the event are $20 and doors will open at 7 p.m. The performance will begin at 8 p.m.

On May 18, the company will host a parade that will involve the fire company and local police and ambulance. The parade will go along Route 73 to the fire station.

“We hope that the whole community comes out to the parade because it is as much as a community celebration as it is a celebration for the fire company,” O’Hanlon said.

The three parade marshals are the oldest members of the fire company — Ed Ross, who has been involved since September 1965; Mel Roberts, who has been involved since May 1963; and John Posen, who has been with the company since December 1962.

Some other events the fire company will be hosting this year will be a golf outing on June 3 at the Centre Square Gold Club, followed by a weeklong carnival behind the fire house, 1298 Skippack Pike, from June 11-16.

The celebrations will end with the Fire Expo, which will conclude with fireworks on Oct. 4 with a rain date of Oct. 5.

For more information about the events and Centre Square Fire Company, visit www.csfc33.com. The company will also be posting the events to their Facebook page which can be found at www.facebook.com/csfc33.